The Jags' offense did something that hasn't been prevalent this season -- they scored points in every quarter of the game. More importantly, they scored points in answer to Monroe's scores. The Warhawks took a 7-6 lead at 12:33 of the second quarter and the Jags scored a touchdown at 9:13 to regain the lead. Monroe scored a touchdown at the 10:07 mark of the third quarter and the Jags responded with a TD at the 5:58 mark. There was good balance with the run and pass and effectiveness most of the game. The best offensive showing in a while.

GRADE: A

DEFENSE

Likewise, the Jags' defensive effort was one of its best of the season. It starts with the play up front and the nine -- count 'em, nine -- sacks that were collected against one of the Sun Belt's best and most elusive quarterbacks in Kolton Browning. True, he is not at 100 percent health, but that doesn't take away from South Alabama's defensive effort that included five of the nine sacks in the fourth quarter alone. The sack total set a school record for a single game. The Warhawks managed just 71 yards rushing and only 274 total yards, far below their average. A strong performance.

GRADE: A

SPECIAL TEAMS

This group had a good game as well, though there may have been some help from a strong wind at times. Punter Scott Garber averaged 44.8 yards per punt on four tries and dropped two inside the 20. Place-kicker Aleem Sunanon made all three of his field goal tries (he has now hit eight in a row) covering distances of 43, 45 and 34 yards. The Jags had no returns on punts or kickoffs and the kick coverage teams did a solid job, allowing and average of just 10 yards on kickoff returns and one yard on punt returns. Again, solid.

GRADE: A

COACHING

The gameplan for how to attack Louisiana-Monroe was spot on as noted by the balanced offensive attack and scoring and the school-record sack performance and overall showing by the defense. It was no small task to get the Jags ready to play after a disappointing loss at Navy. The staff has done a good job of keeping the team focused during tough times and the week of preparations for Monroe provides a good example of that work.

GRADE: A

OVERALL

The win over Western Kentucky remains the biggest win of the year for this team, but Saturday's win over Monroe may have been the best-executed game of the year for the Jags when considering all phases of the game and the balance that was created on both sides of the ball. The win ended a three-game losing streak, which carries its own value, but it also demonstrated how the Jags can play when they put their best foot forward and execute the gameplan.